Austro-Hungarian Early Post -War shovel, 1945 - 1950, "Copy of the WW1 Trench Spade, Model 1910", Austria - Hungary

UPDATE Nov. 2024:  I don't usually start off a blog posting with an update, but in this instance I am.  The shovel we'll be discussing is an interesting one, to say the least.  My initial impression was that it was a WW1 version, but there were a few small differences from existing WW1 shovels, but enough similarities to call it WW1.......... After consulting, and discussing the shovel with a colleague of mine in Austria a number of years ago, and after more information and research was forwarded to me by another collector, it appears that the shovel is one of the VERY early, post WW1 shovels produced by Hungary.  These early post war variations are nearly identical, and were made from 1945 to 1950.  To date there does not seem to be any actual, concrete documentation on this, but collectors and a few shovel historians consider that to be "fact".  These early post war shovels do not have the "blade ears", the top edge of the shank (where wood handle inserts) is rounded and not pointed like the WW1 version.  It is interesting to note that the "shank band" on this shovel matches the bands on the M-1910 WW1 versions, and the rivets are ground flush like the M-1910 shovels.  On the other 1945 - 1950 post-war shovels, the shank bands are thicker and narrower, and the rivets are proud. The 1945 -1950 versions also have the "1381" stamp with unknown makers mark.

There is a possibility that this shovel was reconditioned and put back into service, or could be some sort of transition shovel before the "normal" 1945 - 1950 shovels were standardized and put into full "mass production".  Just a thought and observation........the answer is often in the little details!

So, for now we will have to call this shovel a 1945 - 1950, early post-war Hungarian spade. (I still find it very odd that they would reproduce the old WW1 shovels when so many better, and more modern styles were out there.....a mystery for sure!) If anyone can provide concrete information and documentation regarding this version, and what the markings positively mean, PLEASE let me know by email!  Thanks again to everyone who has consulted and researched on this odd one.

I am leaving the original post as I wrote it at the time (2015), but please consider the information in the update as you read through it.

 

 The Original Blog Post:

As promised, the shovel and spade thread continues!  Up today is a recent addition to the collection that arrived in a very unexpected way.  It is a WW1 vintage, Austro - Hungarian Trench Spade.

A while back, I purchased a post-war, Model 1950, Hungarian entrenching spade from one of my favorite surplus sources.  Unfortunately they did not include the canvas shovel cover.  I have have been looking for an original, correct, Hungarian cover to go with it ever since.  Apparently they are tougher to find than I thought!
Then I caught a lucky break in the search.  The same company was selling them again, only this time, they included the original canvas covers.  The price was right, so I went ahead and ordered a second one, just to get the cover (and you can never have too many shovels!).

When the package arrived, I eagerly tore into it and pulled out a "ratty and beat" shovel in a mint condition cover.  Not exactly what I was expecting.  The shovel cover was everything I was hoping for.  It was a mint condition and completely intact, post-war, Model 1950 Hungarian cover.  Poking out of the cover was a very beat up shovel handle.  I immediately noticed that the handle did not look at all "quite right".  The wooden handle was too thin and too long for a Model 1950 shovel.  It was also in noticeably rough shape.  I pulled out the shovel and discovered that it was in fact, a pre-WW1 Austro - Hungarian Trench Spade!  Technically it was Hungarian, but definitely NOT a post-war spade (as in post-WW2)!  I unexpectedly had landed an unbelievable shovel score!

The spade is not in anywhere close to perfect condition, but it has that amazing patina that only 100 years and two wars worth of use can impart.  The metal was "hot dipped" in a tar paint that had hardened and petrified, and the handle had been whittled, and carved with graffiti by previous owners.  

I would imagine that this spade had been in use through WW1, then WW2, and then for some time after WW2, until the Model 1950 spades were issued out.  Then the old shovels were discarded or placed into long-term storage by hot dipping in the tar paint and adding a new canvas cover.  I just happened to be one of the lucky buyers who received one of the odd , old spades, in the surplus bin!

I could see a bit of some stampings under the tar paint.

A half an hour's worth of scrubbing with a green scouring pad and mineral spirits, and the tar paint was removed, leaving the original metal and finish intact.  It appears that the blade had been used as a "frying pan" over an open fire for quite some time, leaving the metal with an interesting "Damascus" finish. The stamping marks came out clear as well, however, I still have not identified them.

The handle had been carved with two flats on the top and bottom so that it would grip correctly to use as a trench fighting "axe".  At least one previous owner had carved his initials into the wood, with a few additional "decorations" as well.

All in all, this is an amazing example of a "real trench spade" from WW1.  Beautiful in all of its imperfections!

Before we look at the album, here are a couple of photos comparing the Model 1950, post war spade, with the Model 1910, WW1 spade I received. The Model 1910 is on the top.

Here is the album, enjoy!

Pre-Cleaning:

After Cleaning:

US Model 1910, T-Handle Trench Shovel, WW1 Vintage Entrenching Tool

Here is another wonderful, vintage shovel that I recently picked up.  I have been meaning to add one of these old WW1 trench shovels to my collection, but I had not been able to find a nice one with the right price, until the other day.

This shovel is a very nice example of the WW1, Model 1910, T-Handle shovel that was used by the US military from before WW1, through WW1, and then into the beginning years of WW2.  There were three production periods of this style shovel, the first was before WW1, the second during WW1, and the third run was in 1942-1943 for the early WW2 troops.  Only the WW2 vintage shovels are dated and marked with the manufacturer.   These T-Handle shovels were replaced with the introduction of the newer folding shovels in 1943.

The pre-WW1 shovels were produced at the Rock Island Armory (RIA) and were not stamped with US markings.  Some of these early T-handle shovels have the "flaming bomb" stamp on one end of the T-handle. 

There are three known manufacturers of the WW1 vintage shovels:  Ames, Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company, and Wood Shovel Company.

The WW1 vintage shovels are marked US on the wood and US in the shovel shank.  Another distinguishing detail on the old WW1 shovels, are the wood wedges on either side of the shank where the wood attaches to the shovel blade.  The WW2 versions often did away with these wood wedges.

Here is a link to the posting of a WW2 T-Handle shovel in my collection:
http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2016/03/us-model-1910-t-handle-shovel-dated.html

There must have been millions of these old shovels produced as they are still regularly encountered.  It is getting much tougher to find them at an affordable price and in good condition though.  I was lucky with this one.  I found it on eBay and purchased it from a woman who found it in the remnants of an estate-barn sale just east of Astoria, Oregon.  Who knows, maybe it was used by some of the garrison troops in the area in "the old days".  We will never know for sure.  What I can say for sure is that it has a new home in "The Bunker"!

Here are some additional photos of this vintage shovel.  Enjoy!

Note the wooden wedge next to the wood handle connection.  

Danish Army Engineers, Pioneer Spade circa 1940's to 1980's

Here is the next "installment" along our recent shovel and spade theme.

Today's spade is a very unique one indeed.  In fact, you may not ever run across one of these out there in the collecting and memorabilia scene. 

This style of full-sized, pioneer spade was issued and used by the Danish Army starting the early 1940's.  I am not certain how long they have been used, but since a small batch recently found their way onto the surplus market (and I do mean a small batch of spades!), I would assume that they are no longer being used, or have been replaced with a newer model.
NOTE:  Thank you to Niels who added this additional information about this shovel manufacturer:   DSI : Dansk Staal Industri = Danish Steel Industry 1915 - 1981. After 1981, it was taken over by Hultafors.

 NOTE: I have recently added two more of these spades to the collection.  You can read about them and see photos here:
http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2015/10/two-new-danish-army-engineers-pioneer.html

From what I understand this spade was specified, issued, and used with the Danish military version of the Mercedes "G" Wagon, 4x4, basically the European version of the US Jeep, beginning in the early 1980's.  I am not certain where on the Mercedes these shovels would have been mounted, but I would imagine it was most likely under the engine hood, or inside the passenger area somewhere.  I have not seen a single photo of pioneer gear (shovels, axes, picks) mounted on the outside of one of the Danish rigs.

Here's a comparative shot of the spade on the hood of my Jeep. (yes, that's me in the reflection!).  This will give you a better idea of the actual size of the spade.

The spade is marked with the Danish Crown and ITT, on the blade.  ITT stands for The Danish Army Engineers ( Ingenior Teknisk Tjeneste). 

On the shank of the blade, it is marked DSI.  I am not certain what this stands for, but it may indicate the manufacturer.

UPDATE:  Thank you to Niels, who left the following information in the comments section.  "DSI : Dansk Staal Industri = Danish Steel Industry 1915 - 1981 where it was taken over by
Hultafors."

I think I'll let the rest of the photos speak for themselves. 

Imperial Russian, Finland Re-Issue, Trench Spade - Shovel dated 1915, Finnish SA Marked

As promised in my last posting, the shovel details are here!

Today I'll be showcasing the latest addition to the collection.  This shovel is an Imperial Russian, Finland re-issue "trench shovel", dated 1915.

This shovel would have been originally issued to the Russian troops that were in Finland during the WW1 years.  When Finland broke away from Russia in 1917, these shovels were taken as "captured" equipment and re-issued to the Finish Army.   This shovel would have been carried during the Winter War of 1939, and during the Continuation War for the remainder of WW2, and probably into the post-WW2 years as well.

The shovels were repainted in "Finland Green" and a hole was punched through the blade so that the shovel could be carried on a belt hook.

This particular shovel is stamped with the date 1915,   It also is stamped with the SA stamp which stand for:  Suomen Armeija Taisteluvälinehallinto, or in English, "Finish Army Ordinance Department".  There is a P stamped next to the SA stamp that represents Pioneerin, the Finland Engineers - Sappers.

The original Russian green paint is visible, as well as the Finish green paint that is a slightly more "olive drab" color.

To the left side of the SA stamp, you can see the very faint Imperial "Double Eagle" stamp from it's original Russian issue.  Under the SA stamp, there are the remains of some original Russian, Cyrillic letters.

There is even some "graffiti" carved into the handle by a prior owner!

UPDATE:  I have since added two more Finnish shovels to the collection.  You can see them here:
http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2018/04/finish-army-engineer-sapper-shovel.html 

http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2017/03/finish-army-engineer-sapper-shovel.html

Now let's finish things up with a few extra detail photos:

Shovels - Shovels - Shovels !

Well, it's been awhile since my last blog post, so I guess it's time to give everyone a "teaser" about my next string of future postings.

Here's the hint:  "Shovels, Shovels, Shovels, and more Shovels!".

After I picked up the leather shovel cover for my Swiss entrenching tool - spade, that I showcased in my last post, I hit pay-dirt in the shovel department, over and over and over...........  SIX shovels in all!

First off, I found a "free shipping" offer from one of my favorite surplus sources, which meant that I just had to order something.  I discovered that they were carrying a very rare, Danish Army, sapper shovel that was originally carried on the Danish Military version of the Mercedes "G", 4x4 Wagons, back in the 1980's.  It's marked for the Danish Engineers Department and in fantastic shape. Basically it is a "Danish Jeep Shovel".

Next off, I located a seller on eBay who had a few very crazy listings that all just happened to be inaccurate and in the incorrect categories.  Well, at the end of the bidding, I was the proud owner of two more shovels, another Swiss spade dated 1938 with a 1941 cover, and pre-WW1 Swedish spade that is unit-marked for the 18th Swedish Infantry Regiment.  If that wasn't enough, I also spotted a Bundeswehr folding entrenching tool dated 1965 with a 1969 leather cover, and an early model US, pre-WW1, T-Handle shovel!  Needless to say, I won the bids on both of those as well!

In the meantime, I received another "free shipping" offer and I ordered a post-WW2 Hungarian spade with canvas cover.  I already had one of these post-war spades, but I needed the canvas cover (very hard to find!).  It never hurts to have an extra spade or two in the quiver, so it was worth buying another spade just to get the cover............  Well, the order arrived and I was elated when I discovered that the spade was NOT a post-WW2 model as advertised.  It was in fact, a WW1 vintage, Austro-Hungarian shovel!  The canvas cover was a mint condition post-WW2 cover.  It was a total score in both the shovel and cover departments!

Not to finish things there, I spotted another shovel on eBay.  It is a WW1, Imperial Russian spade that is marked as a Finnish Army re-issue, Winter War vintage!.  It's in beautiful shape and in the mail as I type this!

No photos of the Russian-Finish spade yet....... When the shovel arrives, I'll take, and post, plenty of photos.

Stay tuned for future detailed postings on each of these new additions.  I'm completing the research and getting ready to post............

Swiss Entrenching Shovel-Spade, Schweizer Klappspaten, with new leather cover! 1941

A few postings back, I showcased my batch of the rare metal versions of the Swiss shovel covers from late WW2.  Now I have one of the leather covers from the early war years to show off as well.

I was prowling eBay the other day and ran across a lone leather shovel cover for my the Swiss Entrenching Shovel-Spade.  I have been looking for one of these ever since I picked up my shovel that was missing the cover.  This is the first leather cover that I have ever run across that was available without a shovel.  I picked up this one for a fair price and it arrived today. 

The leather was a bit stiff from age, so I gave it a good coat of oil and let it soak in.  Now it's good-to-go and a great addition to what has become a Swiss Shovel Set!  I have the shovel and BOTH of the covers!  

This leather cover is dated 1941 and has crisp and clear leather stampings indicating the manufacturer as well as the Swiss Military acceptance stamp (cross).

The straps are riveted with copper rivets with aluminum washers and together, they make a beautiful combination.  The smaller, edge reinforcing rivets are all aluminum.  There is still a bit of "green corrosion" on a few of the copper rivet heads that will need to be buffed off.  All in all, this is a beautiful leather cover with no real flaws.  It is definitely built to last, using old-world craftsmanship and materials.  That is why I love these old Swiss surplus pieces.

As a comparison, I pulled out the rare metal cover so I could get a few side-by-side shots.  It is interesting to note that the metal covers are slightly smaller overall, and actually weigh less than the leather.

An now to finish things up, here is the traditional photo album: